Helen Stransky - January 31, 2008
Life Before the War
What did your father do?
My father--it was actually my grandfather had the wealth but my father um, I think he was in real estate. Not only that but he had a factory of um, small uh, zipper parts--that small kind of zinc factory. My--he also led a chamber music orchestra. He played violin and cello and uh, piano. He was very good on piano. My mom um, she was willed a glass factory from her father. He died about 1936 and he had forests in Bohemia. Um, a uh, that, that--brick works fac...my grandmother had a brick works factory. Um, they--I don't remember all the things but they were very well off. They had a glass factory which they left to my mom.
Was it a religious family?
Um, my mom I think was religious; my father not at all.
So, were there Friday night dinners then?
I don't remember.
Um, did you get any...
I think they were more secular than anything.
Secular like most Czech Jews I think.
Yeah.
So they were very much assimilated would you say?
My father was and his family but I don't know...
Grandparents too?
My grandpar...Paula Stransky, yeah, to my knowledge.
Uh, you know I forgot to ask you what was your maiden name?
No, I never married so...
Never married so Stransky was your...
Yeah, my...
...name.
...my mother's maiden name was Weinman. Um, Louise Weinman. My grandmother, Laura Cohen.
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